CITY council planners are due to approve a scheme to convert a property into temporary housing for Ukrainian and Afghan refugees. 

Winchester City Council's proposal will see 59 Colebrook Street become a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) with added bike storage.

This comes after civic chiefs triggered £610,000 for the work last November. 

The applicant is named as Mitchell Cowan, corporate building surveyor at Winchester City Council. 

It will have six private rooms as well as shared space. 

READ MORE: Winchester City Council £600k plan to refurbish refugee home

It will be decided by the planning committee on Wednesday, March 13, because it was submitted by the city council.

One objection was received from the City of Winchester Trust. It said: “The trust objects to this application. More communal space should be provided and we also suggest that the proposed ground floor bedroom be allocated as a living area.”

The planning officers' report said: “The proposal is for the conversion of the office to a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) with the addition of bike storage to the rear. The building currently adjoins neighbouring  properties, however these do not have a residential use. 

“The proposal also includes the removal of a chimney as part of works to maintain the building.”

The committee are due to decide the application tomorrow Wednesday, March 13. For more details about the scheme online, search 23/02895/FUL on the city council's planning portal.